The moratorium has "discouraged the investment of private capital in the commonwealth and reflected poorly on the DRBC's ability to function effectively," Corbett wrote Thursday in a letter to Carol Collier, the agency's executive director.

Navitas Land and Mineral Corporation, an oil and gas production firm, today announced the completion of three of its seven wells drilled in less than three months, all located in Northwest Kentucky. After drilling the Otho Babb #2, a 7008 foot oil and gas well that revealed hydrocarbon presence in multiple zones (some from formations that have not been produced in the area before), Navitas went on to drill six more wells within 1500 yards of the Otho Babb #2, each permitted to 4000 feet.

The directors and management of Strata-X Energy Ltd. ("Strata-X" or the "Company") /quotes/zigman/12240492CA:SXE-2.04%(asx:SXA) are pleased to provide an update on the 2013 exploration and appraisal programs for the Company's three key USA projects where Strata-X is the operator and majority interest owner.

Twelve free-market public policy organizations today released a joint letter urging House Members to oppose H.R. 1959, The Domestic Alternative Fuels Act of 2013. The bill would allow ethanol derived from natural gas to count toward the federal government’s mandatory blending targets established by the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and the EPA’s implementing regulations.

While commending Rep. Pete Olson (R-TX) and his co-sponsors for seeking to break “the corn lobby’s legal monopoly on a significant and growing share of the U.S. motor fuel market,” the coalition letter argues that the solution is to repeal market-rigging regulations, not empower another special interest to share in the spoils.

H.R. 1959 would compound, not alleviate, the worst unintended consequences of the RFS program. Such undesirable side-effects include skyrocketing grain prices and potentially volatile fuel prices as the RFS compels refiners to sell more ethanol than can safely be blended into conventional gasoline (the “blend wall” problem).

As CEI Senior Fellow Marlo Lewis explains: “Enacting this bill would align the natural gas lobby with the corn lobby. Their common interest would be to increase the overall RFS blending target beyond 36 billion gallons, mandate the sale of E20 or even higher ethanol blends, and relax environmental criteria so that corn- and gas-based ethanol can fill the void created by non-existent advanced biofuels. Expanding the RFS in these ways would likely drive up both fuel and grain prices and make them more volatile.”

The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today released a draft report describing best practices for drilling and production that should be required if horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing for natural gas is permitted in the Marcellus shale in Maryland. The draft report, which was prepared in consultation with an advisory commission, includes recommendations to protect public health and safety, natural resources and the environment.

Federal environmental regulators are investigating a January chemical emergency at an Ohio oil well and asking why an inventory of the facility's chemicals wasn't available to local authorities, according to a letter released Wednesday by a coalition of activists.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa., June 26, 2013 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Eclipse Resources I, LP ("Eclipse Resources") announced today that it has acquired The Oxford Oil Company, LLC, with approximately 184,000 net acres in Ohio and 13.8 Bcfe of proved developed producing reserves. The Oxford Oil Company, LLC ("Oxford") was subsequently renamed to Eclipse Resources – Ohio, LLC and will remain a wholly owned subsidiary of Eclipse Resources. In conjunction with the acquisition, the company has completed a private offering of $300 million of senior unsecured notes with the ability to sell an additional $100 million over the next twelve months to the note acquirers.

The U.K. said fields of shale gas in northern England are twice as large as previously estimated, offering the potential to boost economic growth, replace depleted North Sea deposits and cut energy imports.

WASHINGTON, June 25, 2013 — API President and CEO Jack Gerard delivered opening remarks during Tuesday’s Onshore Oil and Natural Gas Safety and Reliability Symposium, which provided updates on standards being developed in the areas of well integrity, environmental performance, community engagement, and equipment quality and reliability in oil and natural gas drilling operations.

“As America continues its reemergence as a global energy leader, the demands on our energy infrastructure will grow considerably,” said Gerard. “API’s standard-setting program helps to ensure that America’s energy infrastructure remains world class and able to develop responsibly our game-changing energy resources as well as demonstrate our industry’s top priority is safety.”

API’s world-leading standards and recommended practices program, overseen by API Director of Standards David Miller, is one of API’s oldest and most successful programs. It began in 1924. API now maintains more than 600 standards covering all segments of the oil and gas industry, and more than 100 API standards are cited in federal regulations.

“API is setting standards used around the world,” said Miller. “Our program is transparent, audited, and open to all interested stakeholders. Our goal is to produce the best safety and operational standards possible.”

What's often considered an annual environmental housecleaning bill in the North Carolina Legislature drew fierce criticism Tuesday after lawmakers presented a sweeping new version of the bill with provisions governing hydraulic fracturing and air quality.

Halliburton Co. (HAL) and competing providers of drilling gear are adapting acoustic spy technology used by U.S. submarines to record sounds made deep in the earth that can guide engineers in finishing a well and predicting how much oil will flow.

SALT LAKE CITY, UT--(Marketwired - June 24, 2013) - Transfac Capital, Inc., a specialty finance company providing accounts receivable financing to small and mid-sized companies, today announced the expansion of its presence into the Utica and Marcellus Shale fields. Tanya Boczek, Business Development Manager of Transfac Capital, will lead business development efforts in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia pursuing relationships within the oil and gas industry.

Transfac Capital's accounts receivable financing provides working capital for businesses in need of improved cash flow. Oilfield service companies, such as drillers, haulers, tank cleaners and testers, often find themselves in a cash crunch. Transfac is a direct source of funding for these and other similar type businesses. In addition to factoring and accounts receivable financing, Transfac has the ability to help companies with accounts receivable management and purchase order and inventory funding on a case-by-case basis. With 70 years of experience in the transportation industry, Transfac Capital has developed specialized programs for the trucking industry in general, and for oilfield and pipeline transportation companies, specifically.

DURHAM, NC -- Homeowners living within one kilometer of shale gas wells appear to be at higher risk of having their drinking water contaminated by stray gases, according to a new Duke University-led study.

The Ohio Oil & Gas Commission on Friday ruled against an appeal filed by D&L Energy, ending company efforts to regain state licenses to dispose of oilfield wastes.

D&L's disposal operations were suspended by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' Civision of Oil & Gas Resources Managament earlier this year after the company's former president, Ben Lupo, 62, of Poland, was accused of ordering employees to illegally dump the waste down a storm sewer that drained into the Mahoning River in Youngstown.

COLUMBUS, Ohio. – ShaleNET wants Veterans, and a key application deadline for scholarships specifically for Veterans is fast approaching. Former service members interested in applying for a scholarship to train for a career in the growing natural gas industry are encouraged to submit applications before June 28 to www.shalenet.org/.

Earluier this month, Texas-based Range Resources announced in a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing that it has reached a memorandum of understanding with plaintiffs in a 2010 class action lawsuit out of Oklahoma, Star-Telegram reports..

State Representative Robert F. Hagan, acting on behalf of his constituents, recently sent a letter to the Oil and Gas Commission highlighting Mr. Lupo’s past environmental violations and urging the commission members to keep in mind the health of the Valley’s residents when considering an appeal lodged by D&L Energy.

WASHINGTON, June 20, 2013 ─ A motion was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana today by all parties involved in litigation concerning seismic surveying in the Gulf of Mexico said API Director of Upstream and Industry Operations Erik Milito.

“We are pleased that the parties to this litigation were able to work together to resolve this matter,” said Milito. “Modern offshore oil and natural gas exploration requires the use of seismic surveys to feasibly and accurately prospect for oil and natural gas reserves offshore.”

The sound produced during seismic surveys is comparable in magnitude to many naturally occurring and other man-made ocean sound sources, including wave action, lightning strikes, marine life, and shipping. Four decades of world-wide seismic surveying activity and scientific research on marine mammals have shown no evidence that sound from seismic activities has resulted in injury to any marine mammal species. Nevertheless, the industry employs a number of robust mitigation measures to further reduce the negligible risk of harm to marine mammals and has committed in this settlement to continuing them voluntarily even when not legally required.

“Industry looks forward to working with government regulators to ensure that seismic operations in the Gulf of Mexico continue to be conducted in an operationally effective and environmentally responsible manner,” said Milito.

API intervened in the case on behalf of the federal government, along with the International Association of Geophysical Contractors, the Independent Petroleum Association of America, and the U.S. Oil & Gas Association.

WASHINGTON, June 20, 2013 – API Group Director of Upstream and Industry Operations Erik Milito welcomed today’s announcement from the EPA that said flawed water testing results from Pavillion, Wyo., would not be part of its hydraulic fracturing review.

“America needs to know EPA is employing appropriate scientific methods for its water quality testing,” said Milito. “EPA has to do a better job because another fatally flawed water study could have a big impact on how the nation develops its massive energy resources.”

As former EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson stated back in 2011, while the Pavillion work was ongoing, there is no “proven case where the fracking process itself has affected water.” Two years later, EPA has yet to demonstrate any evidence of hydraulic fracturing linked to groundwater contamination. EPA’s work at Pavillion, Wyo., joins Parker County, Texas and Dimock, Penn., as examples of unsound science leading to unsupported conclusions. Technical reports released by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) showed that USGS groundwater sampling results contradicted EPA’s results and that the EPA monitoring wells created for the testing were unsuitable for groundwater quality assessment.

“Hydraulic fracturing is a proven and safe engineering technology that is driving the country forward with an unprecedented energy boom,” Milito added. “We promote best practices and comply with state and federal regulators. Our environmental performance is strong. It is a shame this reality is sometimes overshadowed by misinformation generated by faulty procedures and analysis from a federal agency. EPA should not only drop the Pavillion work from consideration, it should fully retract it.”

Oil and gas companies working in the Gulf of Mexico have agreed not to use seismic surveys for the next 2 1/2 years in three areas considered critical to whales and along the coast during the calving season for bottlenose dolphins.

In response to the EPA's announcement today that it will no longer investigate possible ties between hydraulic fracturing and water contamination in Wyoming, Food & Water Watch executive director Wenonah Hauter said:

A press release received Thursday from the Damascus Citizens for Sustrainability:

Methane Baseline Testing Completed in Town of Delaware, NY

Callicoon-Gasland Part 2 Announces Donation to Testing Initiative

Milanville, PA -- Jun 20, 2013 / (http://www.myprgenie.com) -- Methane baseline testing was conducted in the Town of Delaware (NY) the first week of June 2013 and the groups that sponsored Gasland Part 2 in Callicoon, NY are proud to have contributed financially to this crucial assessment.

"Baselines are very important. They establish how much of a chemical or gas or other substance is (or isn't) present in the air, water and human bodies in a particular area. This methane baseline testing was conducted on every public road in the Town of Delaware and establishes one factor in the environment (local methane levels) and others can be added, but this one is done." said B. Arrindell, Director of Damascus Citizens for Sustainability (DCS) who coordinated the testing.

Trish Adlesic, Gasland Part 2's Producer, has been working with Delaware Town residents and DCS to get the study underway. "Delaware Concerned Citizens began raising money to do baseline testing over 5 months ago and we are thrilled that the testing has been done," she said.

The methane baseline data that was collected in early June is being analyzed now. "The report on the findings will be completed in two to three weeks, but preliminary results look nice and low," said Bob Ackley, President of GasSafetyUSA, who conducted the testing.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Methane … is more efficient at trapping radiation than [carbon dioxide]. Pound for pound, the comparative impact of [methane] on climate change is over 20 times greater than [carbon dioxide] over a 100-year period…. Natural gas and petroleum systems are the largest source of methane emissions from industry in the United States."

"The Callicoon showing of Gasland Part 2 was a free and educational collaboration of Catskill Citizens for Safe Energy (CCSE), Catskill Mountainkeeper and Damascus Citizens and it was a huge success in many ways," said CCSE's Jill Wiener. "We packed the theater on a Saturday morning in a small river hamlet and thanks to the outpouring of donations from the audience, we were able to contribute to the crucial and very timely methane baseline testing in the Town of Delaware."

Wes Gillingham of Catskill Mountainkeeper reminded residents that, "It's important to obtain a baseline before hydraulic fracturing activities begin in a particular area. The Picarro testing method used by GasSafetyUSA measures methane in parts-per-billion and has been validated by previous court rulings so we're especially grateful for these efforts on behalf of our communities."

"Clearly Damascus Citizens has the right idea in doing a baseline methane survey," said Gasland's Director, Josh Fox. "We are learning now that methane is constantly emitted into the atmosphere in huge quantities in drilling areas. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) study of Utah's Uinta Basin found that 9% of the total methane produced by drilling was emitted to the atmosphere. In the Los Angeles Basin, drilling and transmission leaks amounted to 17% of total methane production. If the gas industry were ever to come to the Town of Delaware, we would have the data to show how badly they damage the atmosphere. It is yet one more warning to the gas industry never to set foot (or rig) in the Delaware River Basin."

BUTLER, Pa., Jun 17, 2013 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- XTO Energy Inc., a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, announced today the startup of a facility in southwestern Pennsylvania to recover marketable liquids from the natural gas produced in Butler County.

The 340-acre facility is the first of its kind for XTO in the Appalachia region and includes 40 miles of connecting pipeline. Two gas compressor stations feed the facility, which is designed to treat approximately 125 million cubic feet of natural gas per day.

"The facility will add value to XTO and Butler County," said Tim McIlwain, senior vice president, production operations for XTO. "It allows valuable liquids to be separated from natural gas and provides economic growth in southwestern Pennsylvania."

At the peak of construction, 170 local and regional contractors were on site each day. XTO will employ 15 permanent employees to run the operation.

Butler County is a vital part of XTO's Appalachia division. In the past four years, 50 wells have been drilled over 46,000 net acres in the county.

A coalition of Pennsylvania environmental groups on Tuesday asked Gov. Corbett to look into allegations raised by the Scranton Times-Tribune that state records show water contamination from drilling at 161 sites.

The Ohio Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case from Summit County on whether local governments have any say in gas-oil drilling, according to the People's Oil and Gas Collaborative, a grass-roots group that has been following the case..

The case — it is being watched closely across Ohio by both sides — involves the city of Munroe Falls and Ravenna-based Beck Energy Corp.

COLUMBUS– State Representative Robert F. Hagan (D-Youngstown) today announced his plan to capitalize on the boom in horizontal shale drilling by using an updated severance tax model to invest in communities through resources for public education, infrastructure and community services.

CLEVELAND: Storage and treatment of liquid drilling wastes, air emissions of methane, water withdrawls for drilling and site construction are among the biggest problems facing shale gas drilling in Ohio and other states.

Those four problems were at the top of a list put together by researchers Nathan Richardson and Hal Gordon of Resources for the Future, a non-profit group based in Washington, D.C.

Tight water supplies in parts of the U.S. hit by drought threaten the water-intensive process needed to frack shale, reports online news site Politico.

Politico: " ... as energy companies vie to exploit vast reserves west of the Mississippi, fracking’s new frontier is expanding to the same lands where crops have shriveled and waterways have dried up due to severe drought.

Michael Levi of the Council on Foreign Relations takes an excellent first stab at making sense of America’s new energy resources in his new book, "The Power Surge: Energy, Opportunity and the Battle for America’s Future" writes The Economist magazine.

The Economist: "The book’s main strength is the clarity with which the author explains the development of shale exploitation and assesses the implications of the shale boom. Fracking remains controversial among environmentalists, who say the process may contaminate groundwater or cause earthquakes. Concerns over possible long-term effects have led to a ban on the technology in New York and some other states. But there is scant evidence that the process is dangerous.

About 2,000 opponents of a natural-gas drilling process that involves blasting chemical-laden water deep into the ground rallied outside New York's Capitol on Monday as a new statewide poll showed a slight increase among voters who are against it.

OKLAHOMA CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun. 17, 2013-- Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE:CHK) today announced that Patrick K. Craine, a partner with the law firm Bracewell & Giuliani LLP, will join Chesapeake as Chief Compliance Officer. In this capacity, he will report to Chesapeake’s General Counsel, Jim Webb, and the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors.

A lawsuit brought under Ohio’s Public Records Act was filed today in the Fifth District Court of Appeals in New Philadelphia, Ohio against the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) for withholding records requested by Southeast Ohio Alliance to Save Our Water (SOASOW). SOASOW has repeatedly asked the Conservancy District for the addresses of cottage owners who lease land around reservoirs controlled by the MWCD. SOASOW seeks the information in order to communicate directly with residents around the reservoirs and to counter misinformation disseminated by MWCD about the dangers associated with unconventional shale drilling, known as "fracking."

OKLAHOMA CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun. 14, 2013-- Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE:CHK) announced preliminary voting results from its Annual Meeting of Shareholders held earlier today at the company’s Oklahoma City headquarters. The preliminary results are as follows:

The Center for Environmental Health has released a new report outlining the health risks to pregnant women and young children from harmful chemicals used in fracking, reports EcoWatch.

The report, "Toxic and Dirty Secrets: The Truth About Fracking and Your Family's Health," shows how chemicals related to the oil and gas industry when conducting fracking operations can pollute the air and water in communities around fracking sites and pose health risks especially to pregnant women and children, who are most vulnerable to chemical exposures.

The FreshWater Accountability Project Ohio (www.FWAPOH.com) today released a report on the presence and dangers of radiation present throughout the horizontal hydraulic fracturing (fracking) industry that is extracting minerals in Ohio.

On May 29, 2013, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the federal district court’s decision in Lutz v. Chesapeake,allowing a class of landowners to pursue their claims against Chesapeake Appalachia for the underpayment of royalties.

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania- June 13, 2013 – The Associated Petroleum Industries of Pennsylvania (API-PA), a division of the American Petroleum Institute, welcomed the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission’s (PUC) announcement today detailing how local governments are benefiting from the local impact fee revenues collected from natural gas operations in their communities.

“Shale energy production has been generating huge revenues for Pennsylvania – in addition to driving double-digit job growth,” said Stephanie Catarino Wissman, executive director, Associated Petroleum Industries of PA. “This year alone Pennsylvania has collected more than $200 million dollars in impact fees related to shale development. This is benefiting families and communities across the state.”

Under Act 13 of 2012, natural gas producers are required to pay a local impact fee which is deposited into the Unconventional Gas Well Fund. More than $406 million have been collected in 2012 and 2013. According to information posted on the PUC’s website, the revenues have supported housing initiatives, highway and bridge improvements, and environmental programs.

“Shale energy development, made possible by hydraulic fracturing, has been a game-changing opportunity for Pennsylvanians,” said Wissman. “And it’s going to be good news for our economy for many years to come.”

API-PA is a division of API, which represents more than 500 oil and natural gas companies, leaders of a technology-driven industry that supplies most of America's energy, supports 9.2 million U.S. jobs and 7.7 percent of the U.S. economy, delivers more than $85 million a day in revenue to our government, and, since 2000, has invested more than $2 trillion in U.S. capital projects to advance all forms of energy, including alternatives.

From the Enjvironmental Defense Fund, a national eco-group, on Thursday:

Yesterday, Governor Matt Mead unveiled draft regulations that would establish a groundwater testing program for oil and gas operations in Wyoming. These draft rules would require oil and gas operators to conduct tests establishing the quality of groundwater around sites before drilling begins and to follow up later with tests to monitor for potential impacts.

A naturally occuring "eternal flame" in New York state could change the world's assumptions about how much natural gas is available, says a research report published at the NASDAQ stock exchange website.

Wyatt Investment Research: "One eternal flame located just south of Buffalo, NY could change every assumption about energy in America.

An article featured in the latest issue of the online publication Ohio State Law Journal Furthermore addresses problems of proof in hydraulic fracturing contamination claims, methods for avoiding these problems and a procedure courts use "in an effort to quickly resolve cases in which plaintiffs lack evidence to support an essential element of their claim."

Ohio has gotten most of the attention regarding tapping the Utica shale. But the Utica shale is much, much larger and extends well into Pennsylvania, New York and other states. Much of the Utica is underneath the well-publicized Marcellus shale, reports RealClearEnergy.

RealClearEnergy: "To date most of the attention has been focused on development of the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania while exploration of the Utica Shale has been limited to Ohio. What is not generally realized is that the Utica Shale is actually a much larger formation lying mostly BENEATH the Marcellus in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New York and the far western portion of Maryland."

Electric producers in the eastern United States are increasingly switching from coal to natural gas.

PJM Interconnection is the 14-state agency that coordinates whoelsale electric markets and it is seeing increasing evidence of that switch, according to Pennylvania NPR's StateImpact and reporter Susan Phillips.

HOUSTON, TX -- (Marketwired) -- 05/07/13 -- Magnum Hunter Resources Corporation (NYSE: MHR) (NYSE MKT: MHR.PRC) (NYSE MKT: MHR.PRD) (NYSE MKT: MHR.PRE) (the "Company") announced today that the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Alpha Hunter Drilling, LLC ("Alpha Hunter") has taken possession of a new Schramm T500XD robotic drilling rig. The Company plans to utilize the Schramm T500XD drilling rig to drill exclusively Company owned wells planned in the Utica formation located in Southeastern Ohio for the next three years. With the addition of this new drilling rig, Alpha Hunter's fleet has now grown to five rigs.

Centrica Plc (CNA) (CNA) is close to buying a stake in shale gas fields in England, a person with knowledge of the matter said, placing the U.K.’s largest energy supplier at the center of efforts to start producing the fuel.

Technological advances to harness shale resources will curb OPEC’s influence in the oil market and cap crude prices at $120 a barrel, said Nansen Saleri, former head of reservoir management at Saudi Arabian Oil Co.

Arif Mahmood, Petronas vice-president of corporate planning, says the company will invest between $9 billion and $11 billion to construct two LNG liquefaction plants near British Colombia's west coast.

Chevron Corp. (CVX), Williams Cos. and WPX Energy Inc. (WPX) face a lawsuit by six Pennsylvania families who claim nearby gas wells are a nuisance that have diminished their ability to make use of their property.

Our Call The U.S. rig count has started creeping higher since the April trough despite headwinds from lower gas activity. Overall, the rig count has advanced 27 rigs from the early April trough (1,738) and is basically unchanged year-to-date at 1,765 rigs with oil rigs up 79 (6.0%) and gas rigs down 77 (17.9%). We expect rig count growth to improve throughout 2H13 and 2014 driven by rising oil drilling near term and higher gas activity in late 2013/2014.

• United States Rig Count: The United States total rig count stands at 1,765 rigs, down from 1,771 last week and has declined 11% year-over-year (1,984 rigs). The decline is largely attributed to the drop in gas rigs which were 588 a year ago while oil rigs were 1,386; currently, there are 1,406 oil rigs (+1.6%) and a mere 354 gas rigs, down 39.8% from a year ago.

• Oil Rigs on the Rise: Oil rigs currently make up 79.6% of the United States total rig count (latest data June 7th from Baker Hughes) versus 71.2% a year ago. The up-tick stems from operators continuing to seek out oily basins as oil prices offer a more compelling return versus natural gas resource plays. Oil rigs averaged 1,407 for the month of May, up 2.4% from an average of 1,374 in April 2013, which were almost the same as last year's May average of 1,373.

• Gas Rigs Bottoming and Stagnant: The gas rig count in the United States appears to be bottoming as gas rigs have stood around 354 for the past four weeks. Gas rigs have declined significantly from a year ago averaging 600 for May last year and now currently stand at 353, down over 40% on the year. Month-over-month gas rigs have dropped 5.9% from the 374 average in April. The improving natural gas backdrop will likely lead to rising gas drilling in 2H13 and 2014.

• International Rigs Slowly Rising: The international rig count for May totaled 1,283 rigs, down 1.4% or 25 rigs sequentially, and up marginally (0.4%) year-over-year to 1,203 from 1,198 excluding Iraq (80 rigs) in May 2013 and Syria (27 rigs) in May 2012. All regions declined sequentially excluding the Middle East which grew 2.3% led by an 8 rig increase in Iraq. Sequentially rigs in Latin America (-1.2%), Europe (-8.8%), Africa (-0.8%), Asia Pacific (-3.1%) all experienced a pullback in activity. Year-over-year Europe improved 5.1% to 124 rigs, Asia pacific remained flat at 249 rigs, and Africa grew 49.4% to 124 rigs from 83 last May. Latin America dropped 7.2% on the year to 424 rigs and the Middle East declined 3.1% to 282 rigs, excluding Iraq (80 rigs in May 2013) and Syria (27 rigs in May 2012).

• Favorite Names: Our favorite large cap stock in Oilfield Services is Halliburton (HAL – $43.01 – Buy PT $45); Superior Energy (SPN – $27.27 – Buy PT $34) and TETRA Technologies (TTI – $10.98 – Buy PT $12) are our preferred mid-cap and small-cap names, respectively. All three companies stand to benefit from the likely rise in the U.S. land rig count in 2H13 and 2014 and the associated completions work. Also, these three companies have exposure to the growing deepwater and international markets.

OKLAHOMA CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun. 6, 2013--
Devon Energy Corporation
(NYSE:DVN) announced today that its board of directors has approved a plan to form a publicly traded midstream master limited partnership (MLP). The MLP is expected to initially own a minority interest in Devon’s U.S. midstream business. This business includes natural gas gathering and processing assets located in
Texas
, Oklahoma, and
Wyoming
.

WASHINGTON, June 6, 2013 – Erik Milito, API director of upstream and industry operations, acknowledged the BLM’s 60 day extension for comments related to the proposed hydraulic fracturing rule released in May and said that many questions remain unanswered:

“Industry will need the time to effectively review and comment on all of the existing various state and federal agency regulatory activities that overlap with much of what BLM is proposing. States have led the way in regulating hydraulic fracturing operations while protecting communities and the environment for decades.

“Many questions still remain as this new rule has the potential to significantly slow domestic energy production, as well as damage national, state, and local economies. An additional layer of regulation must be carefully scrutinized and the last thing we need are rules that create confusion in the regulatory process.”

Federal investigators are releasing more than 1,400 pages of documents about a natural gas pipeline explosion in Sissonville, but they won't provide any analysis or identify the probable cause of the near-disaster last December.

COLUMBUS: Gov. John Kasich is working to line up support in Ohio’s drilling heartland for his proposed tax increase on oil and gas drillers by offering to send a quarter of proceeds back to Appalachia.

Columbus, OH – “Today’s news that yet another company allegedly dumped oil and gas waste directly into a private pond should raise a red flag for legislators considering an amendment to the budget bill regulating the disposal of radioactive waste from fracking. The proposed amendment would allow the industry to self-police, monitoring wastes on-site for radioactivity. What’s more is that according to radiation experts, the monitoring likely to be implemented will be inadequate to accurately determine the concentration of radioactivity in oilfield wastes.

COLUMBUS, OH – Today, in response to an order from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Harch Environmental Resources has ceased operations in the state after evidence was found that the company was illegally disposing of oil field waste in Ohio. Gulfport Energy Corporation contracted with Harch Environmental to dispose of the oil field waste that was illegally dumped, indicating that Gulfport Energy Corporation failed to meet its responsibility to monitor oil field waste from inception to injection. ODNR is consulting with the Ohio Attorney General’s office regarding any civil or criminal penalties both against Harch Environmental and Gulfport Energy.

ECOS is the national, nonprofit association of state and territorial environmental agency leaders. Its conference will provide a forum for state and federal government officials, business and industry, environmental groups, and others to build bridges and learn from one another.

Panels will cover: the appropriate balance among environmental protection, energy security, and economic gain; state regulatory approaches; the methane challenge; water quality; and best practices.